New music file format is expected to make waves

The format, developed by interactive music company Musinaut, allows several versions of the same track to be loaded into the one file – for example, a bass-heavy version, a dub version, an acoustic version, and an a capella version of the same track can be bundled together.

These elements – dubbed "skins" by Musinaut – can then be controlled individually by the player, meaning that certain tracks come to the front of the mix during playback.  As a result, different sections of the song are emphasized as it's being played – leading to variations in the sound whenever a song is played, and a "live" feel to the music.

Users can select which elements they would prefer to hear themselves, or allow the player software to select it for them.

Electro musician Margaux is one of the first musicians to explore the capabilities of MXP4, which also allows artists to add photos and videos to appear in the player as the music is on.  She says: "My forthcoming album is a ‘musical movie' as MXP4 technology enabled me to tell a story.  I could change the atmosphere and style of a song and also add text and photos. The fact that fans can participate in how they listen to the album is also very exciting for me. I can't imagine making music any other way now."

www.mxp4.com